Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-02-24

1ect discussed At The prayer-meeting ii
the Presbyterian Church last night. in
which the pastor said
One thing remarkable about the suffer
ing OF Christ is this, that he was divine
being. Being divine, we think that he
was far above suffering. That God should
suffer is contrary to all our. conceptions
of God. We do not meet with this
thought in the mythologies of the great
heather world. II Is one of the mysteries
of our holy religion, that Christ, the sec
ond person Of the adorable Trinity, should
suffer. It is that fact that gives such
worth to his sacrifice, and makes it able
to save unto the uttermost all who come
unto God by 1t. But how could suffering
in any form reach him He is high and
lifted up beyond the sufferings SO com
mon to the human race.
But he took into union with his divine
nature our human nature, and thus, v0lun-
tarily, made himself capable Of suffering,
for we are told by the Apostle Who
being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men: And being found
in fashion as a man. he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross"
But this brings to light another mystery.
If as we are taught in Gods word, and as
we believe, 1t was human nature free
from all sin that came into union with the
divine nature In the person of Christ how
even then did he suffer- We believe that
sin causes suffering. But Christ had no
sin. He was "holy, harmless, undefilcd
separate from sinners" Here then is a
wonderful sight. The son Of God suffers
The son of God, after he has taken hum
an nature, which was entirely free from
sin, suffers. 1t cannot be that he suffered
for his own sins, for he had none. BY
his divine nature he is free from sin. BY
his human nature he is free from SIM
Therefore. If suffering comes to such
being, it must be voluntarily received
And SO we are taught in Gods word. And
the suffering of such being must be of
infinite merit. And this also we are
taught in the Holy Scriptures
The Apostle Peter says For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins" 1t was
then for sin, not his own, that he suffer
ed. But whose? The prophet tells us
but he was wounded for our transgres-
sions, he was bruised for our iniquities;
the chastisement of our peace was upon
him, and with his stripes we are healed
He. the just one, suffers for the unjust
He took our place. He suffered in our
stead. Through his sufferings on our
behalf, we secure eternal life, for we are
told that he suffered that he might bring
as toGod.
He brings us into the favor of God here
in this world. We are represented as
at great distance from God by reason
of our sin. But Christ restores us to His
favor and love, by what he has done in
making an atonement for our sins. The
Apostle declares But now in Christ
Jesus, We who sometime were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ. .
Now therefore We are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with
the saints, and of the household of God.
Then it is said of the disciples of Christ
after they are done with the duties and
trials of this life Therefore are they
before the throne of God, and serve him
day and night in his temple; and he that
stitch on the Throne shall dwell among
them. -
Since 1t was the purpose of Christ in
leaving heaven, and taking our nature,
and suffering, and dying to bring us to
God, it is the greatest folly in the world
to neglect him or his work Having done
so much for us, it is reasonable require
ment that we should give him our hearts
and enter upon his service. Let us show
our appreciation of love so great and con-
secrate ourselves to him.